Miscarriage Association co-hosts Scottish Baby Loss Collaborative reception at Scottish Parliament

Last week (5 March), the Miscarriage Association visited Scottish Parliament to co-host an evening reception with the Scottish Baby Loss Collaborative. 

The collaborative has a united vision, that everyone in Scotland deserves access to the care and support they need around pregnancy, baby or infant loss. The event was sponsored by Paul McLennan MSP and co-hosted by our fellow baby loss charities, Held In Our Hearts, Simba, ARC, Baby Loss Retreat, The Lullaby Trust and Sands. 

The evening focused around a key action – asking Members of Scottish Parliament to sign an eight point standard for improving bereavement care in Scotland, asking for:  

• Specialist bereavement care, support and information is accessible to all affected individuals and families, regardless of where they live in Scotland.  

• Dedicated spaces for individuals and families experiencing loss, away from maternity wards.  

• Offering individuals opportunities to acknowledge, honour and remember their loss.  

• Providing individuals and families with high quality and timely psychological and/or emotional support around loss.  

• Clear guidance for professionals which ensures consistency and quality of bereavement care and support for individuals and families.  

• Championing the need for legislative recognition to ensure baby loss is covered in all areas of public policy and planning.  

• Advocating for the role of Third Sector as an equal partner in the delivery of services to individuals and families affected by baby loss.  

• Raising public awareness of the impact of pregnancy, infant and baby loss and challenging societal stigmas.  

With speeches from the leaders of all seven Collaborative charities, Paul McLennan MSP and Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, the event was one empowered by collaboration, and calling for real, lasting change.

Our CEO, Vicki Robinson, said in her speech:

“More than 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage, yet as a society, too often we fail to recognise this type of loss, often seeing it as a medical concern or just a blip on the path to parenthood. But for many who go through it, it is a bereavement just like any other.  

“Things are changing. We’re no longer speaking in hushed tones about miscarriage. In Scotland specifically, we have a miscarriage care framework which is a truly excellent foundation for that improved care, but there is still more to do until everyone gets the support and recognition that they deserve in one of the worst times of their lives.”

Left: Vicki Robinson, Miscarriage Association Chief Executive, speaking at the Scottish Baby Loss Collaborative reception at the Scottish Parliament.
Right: Lucy Graham, Head of Operations & Service Delivery at the Miscarriage Association, speaking with attendees at the Miscarriage Association stand.